Fraternity Members Charged for Student’s Hazing Death

Members of Penn State’s Beta Theta Pi fraternity now face charges for the February death of sophomore Timothy Piazza. Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller made the announcement to reporters on Friday, saying 18 students were culpable.

The grand jury report claimed that a fraternity brother suggested they get him medical attention, but he got shoved into a wall. He later tried again, but was allegedly told that other members were biology and kinesiology majors, so his opinion meant less.

911 was only called hours later, the report said. Piazza passed away two days later from a traumatic brain injury.

Even the fraternity itself faces charges as an entity: one count of misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter, 50 counts of hazing, 48 counts furnishing alcohol to minors, and 48 counts of unlawful acts relative to liquors. Eight students face multiple counts, including felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter. Charges against 10 others include furnishing alcohol to minor, reckless endangering, hazing or tampering with evidence.

Penn State revoked the fraternity’s charter in mid-February over the incident, and implemented a permanent ban in March. We reached out to the Beta Theta Pi for comment, and got a response from the national headquarter’s legal counsel James B. Ewbank II.

From his letter dated Friday:

Since the incident in early February, the International Fraternity has cooperated fully with local officials in their investigation. The early findings of that investigation indicated that the behavior of several undergraduate members was in direct contradiction of the International Fraternity’s expectations and risk management policies, as well as the International Fraternity’s reputation and commitment to character development. Beta Theta Pi International Fraternity has clearly and consistently expressed its position that it does not tolerate hazing or alcohol abuse in any form by its members. The former undergraduate members were well educated by the International Fraternity and Penn State on these policies; however, they are entitled to the presumption of innocence as they face these charges.

Update – May 7, 1:24 p.m.: We added an excerpt from a statement by the fraternity’s legal counsel. You can read the full version below.